Statement from Burkhard Mausberg on the announcement of growing the Greenbelt

“Today, the Ontario government took another step forward in growing the Greenbelt.

At more than 1.8 million acres of protected green space, it is the world’s largest Greenbelt, preserving productive agricultural lands and ecologically valuable lands worth $2.6 billion annually.

Providing us with fresh air, clean water, and healthy local food, the Greenbelt is an economic powerhouse worth $9.1 billion to Ontario’s economy each year and is responsible for 161,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Meaning “valley of the tumbling waters” in Scottish, the Glenorchy Conservation Area comprised of 1000 acres of river valleys, watersheds, forests, and prairie grasslands that will be preserved in their natural state.

The urban river valley designation would ensure that important water connections between the Greenbelt and Lake Ontario will be protected.

Combined, we believe that protecting and restoring the Glenorchy lands and creating an urban river valley designation for municipalities represent the right balance for growing the Greenbelt to ensure it is protected and maintained for many generations to come.”

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Contacts:

Sarah Petrevan

Director of Communications

(416) 960-0001, ext. 337

[email protected]